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Topics - TheNorm

#121
Baseball / Ken Griffey Jr to Hall of Fame
January 06, 2016, 10:50:12 PM
http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14517514/ken-griffey-jr-mike-piazza-voted-cooperstown-baseball-hall-famers

I personally think the voters should have to disclose their ballots, because I'd love to see exactly which three brain dead morons left Griffey completely off. Also still trying to figure out how Alan Trammell still isn't in...what a joke.
#122
Console Gaming Discussion / NBA 2K16
January 04, 2016, 06:04:19 PM
This is probably gonna be a review in parts since I'm slowly going through different parts of the game. Funny thing is, I never would've given this game a second thought but a couple of years ago PS Plus had NBA 2K14 as a free download and I got hooked on the My Career mode, which is like MLB's Road to the Show mode but may even be ever so slightly better (not a knock on RTTS, it's just that good). The mode was so good that I never really got around to playing any of the other modes in the game like MyLeague or MyGM (those modes should be self explanatory). You could pick up endorsements, and how you answered a question in postgame interviews typically had an impact on your standing with your teammates, the city where you played, and the fans. The mode had its flaws, of course; for example, I'm not really sure why the Utah Jazz selected my player (an athletic pass first point guard from Michigan) in the first round when they already drafted Trey Burke (also a point guard...from Michigan) a few picks before me. What I liked about the mode is that you weren't immediately thrown into the starting lineup - you had to make do with whatever minutes you got in the game. It wasn't until around the 30th or 40th game of the season that your rating or an injury got you placed into the starting lineup. You'd receive VC each game depending on your performance, which allowed you to spend on developing your player. The mode was so fun that I actually cheated up a little bit and gave 2K some $$ so that I could have more VC to spend.

Anyway, fast forward to 2K16's My Career...and now you have to play through a Spike Lee 'movie' to get to the heart of the career mode. Blah, whatever-wasn't really feeling the story but now that I'm past all that I can get into the mode that I'm familiar with. Was originally drafted 23rd overall by the Trail Blazers, but then through events in Spike Lee's Joint got to test free agency. Wanted to try and land with the Pistons but after I tried to negotiate for more cash they pulled their offer...so I took more money with their division rivals the Pacers instead...looking forward to those games.   8)  I'll update on this mode as things progress.

Only played one game of a typical team match, and it was enjoyable. Presentation in this mode is absolutely top notch and feels like an actual broadcast. In MyGM and MyLeague you can actually relocate teams...I'm thinking it's time for the Supersonics to come home.  8)
#123
So after purchasing WWE 2K16 (shut up, haven't bought one in ages and some of the WWE stuff has been fun lately-don't judge), I ran into the "there is not enough space on your hard drive for installation" thing. Luckily I was able to delete a couple of games off my system that I'd barely touched and moved on my merry Layeth the Smacketh Downeth way.

But what happens when you get to the point that you don't want to delete some games off your system or lose the saves? Any solutions some of you other PS4 users have looked into or actually done? I'm curious, because there are quite a few games coming out in the next few months that I'd love to give a shot.
#124
Chit Chat / Wes Craven Dead at 76
August 30, 2015, 10:01:45 PM
 :'( Damn, he had some great horror film franchises - Elm Street and Scream...Red Eye was a great one too.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wes-craven-horror-maestro-dies-818806
#125
Console Gaming Discussion / Madden 16
August 27, 2015, 11:34:24 PM
I haven't bought a copy of Madden since 2012 when Megatron was on the cover, and I rarely played that one (it was good from what I remember but that was during the phase when I probably shouldn't have been buying games in the first place due to lack of time to play them). But with the PS4 and EA's second release on the system, I had to give this one a go...and so far I'm impressed.

Gameplay is pretty good so far, but having not played a football game in so long I'm a bit rusty...luckily EA included a trainer to help you learn all the new additions on both offense and defense, and it's come in handy. The graphics are simply incredible on the next gen system, and the game is smooth.

In typical EA fashion however, the game is not without bugs, with probably the biggest one involving the Connected Franchise mode-it's even been recommended to not start a franchise until a patch is released.  >:( Guess it'll just have to be time spent on some more practice and checking out other modes. More impressions to come soon!

http://attackofthefanboy.com/news/madden-16-connected-franchise-issues-to-get-patched-soon/
#126
College Ball / 2015 College Football Season Thread
August 23, 2015, 02:42:22 PM
Might as well kick off this thread with the useless preseason AP Top 25 poll (for the record, all preseason polls are useless), released just a little bit ago. That team from Cowdumbus is ranked #1 (and the first unanimous #1 since AP started doing the preseason polls). TCU, Alabama, Baylor, and Michigan State round out the top 5. If TCU or Baylor are still in the Top 5 at the end of the season, it'll be interesting to see how The Authority ...the selection committee screws them out of a playoff spot this year.  :P

http://www.si.com/college-football/2015/08/23/college-football-polls-preseason-ap-top-25

QuotePreseason Associated Press Top 25

1. Ohio State
2. TCU
3. Alabama
4. Baylor
5. Michigan State
6. Auburn
7. Oregon
8. USC
9. Georgia
10. Florida State
11. Notre Dame
12. Clemson
13. UCLA
14. LSU
15. Arizona State
16. Georgia Tech
17. Ole Miss
18. Arkansas
19. Oklahoma
20. Wisconsin
21. Stanford
22. Arizona
23. Boise State
24. Missouri
25. Tennessee
#127
I love that this has become a news story...

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/08/19/presidential-candidate-deez-nuts-does-not-exist.html?source=TDB&via=FB_Page

...especially to the point that news anchors have to say "Deez Nuts" on air.



And yes, I'd vote for Deez Nuts over Trump any day of the week. #NotEvenALittleBitSorry
#128
Console Gaming Discussion / NCAA Football 2014
August 10, 2015, 12:36:21 PM
So it's been a couple of years since the last NCAA Football release, and you know what? I miss the game coming out.

While I fully admit that after a little while it got pretty easy to nitpick faults with the game (and there were quite a few), there really was nothing else that brought the college football experience to consoles. And if some of you were like me (I have a feeling you are), you've been playing EA's college football release since it started on the Genesis as Bill Walsh College Football. I'm certain I picked the game up every year it was released, and had a field day with them - especially once you could start your own dynasty and recruit your own players.

Now that I'm getting the itch to fire this game up again, it's good to know that the community at Operation Sports has been working on updating rosters for this upcoming football season. I think once that's ready (and at this point they're just tweaking rosters to what's been going on over the last few days of camp), I'm grabbing that roster and doing something I haven't been able to do in a couple of years: fire up a dynasty with Michigan and Jim Harbaugh at the helm, ready to take on a Big Ten that is loaded with some top notch teams and my Wolverines not quite ready for prime time (yet). Sure, I'll need to do a bit of work to realign the conferences to what they are now (luckily there's a guide over at OS on how to do that too), and unfortunately a playoff in dynasty is out of the question...but I just need my video game college football fix again.

And also, if you still have your copy for the PS3 and want to play a random online game sometime, hit me up. :)
#129
Pro Football / 2015 NFL Season Thread
August 08, 2015, 06:35:08 PM
Hey, might as well start this thread off with a brawl that took place in a joint practice session between the Houston Texans and the team from Washington.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13400390/washington-redskins-houston-texans-brawl-joint-practice
#130
Texas Longhorns Coach Charlie Strong gets it.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/13302948/charlie-strong-texas-longhorns-weary-domestic-violence-excuses

Quote"A lot of times (coaches) think, 'Well I can help him.' But are they helping him?" Strong said in an interview with ESPN while visiting the network's main campus. "If you see a young man with issues, you have to surround him with enough people to help change his life. If you can't surround him with enough people to help change his life, you can say all you want, but the kid is never going to change."

Strong has taken a hard stance on discipline since taking over at Texas last season.

"There is no way a guy should hit a woman," he said. "There is no reason for it. If it happens, you need to find somewhere else to play. It isn't hard. Sometimes people think it's hard. You have values. Treat women with respect. No drugs. No weapons. How hard is that? I don't get it."
#131
Chit Chat / Happy Day of Your Birth, tider!
July 20, 2015, 06:41:16 PM
 :woot:  :rtr: :rolltide: :auburnsux:

Hope it's a good one, buddy.
#132
Basketball Discussion / Golden State v. Cleveland
June 05, 2015, 09:05:41 AM
This might be the first NBA Finals contest I've had any interest in since 2005...and just after watching Game 1 last night it's already more entertaining than anything in the NBA since 2005. Stephen Curry is money, and so is Lebron. But right now it looks like Curry has the better supporting cast.
#133
Reviews / The Movie Review Thread
May 31, 2015, 11:41:26 AM
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, James Spader

Worth seeing in IMAX 3D. Movie didn't disappoint to an extent, but I think I might've expected more out of it too-especially after the amazing stories in Winter Soldier and Guardians. I'm not saying the movie was bad (it wasn't), but IMO it was just very good-Spader does provide a very menacing voice for Ultron. Looking forward to seeing how this all leads into Cap 3.

3.5 out of 5
#134
Video Gaming General / Batman: Arkham Knight
May 28, 2015, 11:04:58 PM
Less than a month away before this game drops and I can't f'ing wait. This is the main reason I bought a PS4, and with Rocksteady back behind the helm for this one to end their trilogy I don't think I'll be disappointed.



http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/05/28/on-the-edge-of-control-in-batman-arkham-knight

Batman: Arkham Knight
Release Date: June 23
Publisher: Rocksteady Studios
Platforms: PS4, inferior microsoft console, PC
#135
...as Toronto decides to throw $50million over 8 years (much of it front loaded) at former Red Wings coach Mike Babcock.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/12920242/toronto-maple-leafs-hire-mike-babcock-head-coach

It's been a great ten seasons for him as coach of the Winged Wheel, with one Stanley Cup and the continuation of Detroit's 24 season streak of making the postseason. Best of luck to him, because he'll need it for that gong show of a team. I seriously don't blame him for leaving-he's the best coach in the NHL but let's face it: Detroit was in the business of winning before he got here, and the organization is still in good hands with Jeff Blashill (coach of the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, the Wings minor league farm club) who is in all likelihood the guy who will land the job as Wings coach. A new voice might be needed in the locker room too. Babcock's setting his family up for life, and there's probably no greater test than trying to rescue a storied team that is pretty much a joke now. Some call it ego, but I don't know many people that are good at what they do and would turn down 3x what your current employer is paying to go there and try to make it good there too.
#136
Console Gaming Discussion / NHL 16
May 20, 2015, 10:58:10 AM
So EASports finally released some information on NHL 16, and it looks like it's only going to be a PS4/inferior microsoft console release (too bad PS3/360 owners).

http://mihockeynow.com/2015/05/ea-sports-nhl-16-information-including-new-online-features-playoff-beards-and-more/

QuoteYou can follow the link above for more information, but here are some bullet points:

The EA Sports Hockey League will return, and it has been "reimagined." Fans can choose specialized player classes for balanced competitive experiences, so player skill and your ability to "play as a team" will decide who wins and loses.
Six-on-six online play will be available for drop-in games or private sessions.
With 'online couch co-op' you can play online with friends you're sitting next to.
Game-play modes include 'Be a GM' (better keep your players' morale up), 'Be a Pro' (start from a rookie in the CHL and work your way up) and 'Hockey Ultimate Team' where improved player management and the introduction of 'Hut Single Player Seasons' gives fans another way to improve before 'HUT Online Seasons' or 'Play a Friend' sessions.
The game will offer a training tool so you can practice your offensive and defensive skills.
In-arena authenticity has been improved to feature things unique to each NHL club, like team specific celebrations, mascots, chants and signature props.
Doc Emrick, Eddie Olczyk and Ray Ferraro are all on the call once again.
Playoff beards. That is all.

Oooh, playoff beards-color me excited.  ::) Hopefully they actually use some of that next-gen power and tune the game up a bit. Still love the addition of Doc Emrick for PBP, but Eddie O can go take a flying leap off the nearest tall building.
#137
Reviews / The Book Review Thread
May 11, 2015, 09:57:43 PM
Sure, why the hell not? I'm pretty sure we had a thread similar to this before it got lost some time back in the server switch. Anyway, just posting a review I had on goodreads for this book I finished last night. Great book and a few tearjerker moments there.

Every Day I Fight by Stuart Scott

When Stuart Scott passed away in January of 2015, I was shocked-I knew he'd been battling cancer for years but I always just assumed he'd come back like he had before.

But cancer's a dick.

I really enjoyed this memoir, highlighting his life from his childhood to his years of playing sports, to his college years and him finding his passion-the news. You learn quite a bit about how he started at ESPN and just how much they were behind him there. And of course, you learn all about his battle with cancer.
Probably one of the things I love most about this book is that you can hear Stu's voice in your head, like he's there to tell you all these things. He's a real family man and it feels like his entire fight was for his two daughters that he loved very much. I'd recommend this book to anyone. The back cover also has his most remembered quote from the 2014 ESPYs, when he received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. You'll always be missed, Mr. Scott-I didn't know you personally but through this book I feel like I got a good look at the person you were. Thank you for sharing with us.

Quote"When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live."

5 out of 5
#138
Pro Football / Ball-ghazi
May 06, 2015, 11:15:05 PM
Everyone's calling it deflategate, and it's tired. Besides, I like this title more and unlike the namesake it's taken from the investigation here might've actually found something on its intended target. So...I guess Deflategate might've been more appropriate then?  :D

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12834679/tom-brady-sacked-never-deflategate-findings

QuoteIt turns out that a pair of low-level Patriots staffers were the two-bit Watergate burglars in this case, and that Brady -- not Belichick -- was the tragic Nixonian figure who allowed his unyielding drive to win to blur the line between right and wrong. Appointed by the NFL to find out if New England had intentionally deflated footballs used in its AFC Championship Game rout of the Indianapolis Colts, Ted Wells concluded it is "more probable than not" that Jim McNally, the officials locker room attendant for the Patriots, and John Jastremski, an equipment assistant for the team, did tamper with game balls after they were examined by officials.

"Based on the evidence," the report reads, "it also is our view that it is more probable than not that Tom Brady (the quarterback for the Patriots) was at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities of McNally and Jastremski involving the release of air from Patriots game balls."

Wait...what? So instead of hard facts you're giving me "more probable than not" and "generally aware"?  ::) Well that was a waste of time. What's the punishment gonna be? Will it be "more probable than not" that Tom Brady will just get a fine? I'd think most would want more than "more probable than not" facts if you're going to hand suspensions down. Try and hand down a suspension with wording like that and expect the NFLPA lawyers to jump all over the NFL on it.
#139
Other Sports / 2015 NHL Playoffs
April 27, 2015, 11:09:58 PM
Sure, who doesn't love Game 7s? Unless your team had a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6 at home and promptly blew it. Excuse me while I go vomit.

LOL at St. Louis, Nashville, and Pittsburgh.
#140
Video Gaming General / The Pinball Arcade Thread
April 12, 2015, 11:09:51 PM
Turns out this game was free on PS4, so I downloaded it-only gives you one table with it (Tales of the Arabian Nights), but it's not bad. Plays just like the original, which was fun...but that's not why I'm posting about this game now.

Decided to check to see what other tables were available, and found that two of my all-time favorite pinball machines from the early 90's were available for purchase: Star Trek: The Next Generation and Terminator 2: Judgement Day.  :o :o $4.99 for each of them and off I went-and the tables are faithful to the originals, just like I remembered them. :)

I'm not a big fan of the whole microtransaction thing, but for something like this I consider it a steal. I'll get hours of gameplay out of this, and what I paid won't come close to comparing to all the quarters I dropped in those tables in the first place.